Weatherproof wire



Dec. l5, 1942.

P. M. sNYDl-:R 2,305,324

WEATHERPROOF WIRE' Filed Aug. 23, 1941 INVENTOR. um w. 54.74.,/

Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEATHERPROOF WIRE Purdum M. Snyder, Ben Avon, Pa., assignor to H. H. Robertson Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 23, 1941, Serial No. 408,135

5 Claims. (Cl. 174-121) This invention relates to a weather-resisting wire.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and superior weather-resisting wire which is adapted to be used for all of the general purposes for which the so call-ed weather-proof wire now upon the market is used, `and which in addition possesses the ability of preventing the rapid propagation of llame when therwire is exposed to the direct action of fire, thus increasing the usefulness of the Wire.

With this object in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the weather-resisting wire hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawing Fig. 1 illustrates a side eleva tion of a weather-resisting wire embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

One type of insulated wire on the market and which has been generally used for the transmission of electric power comprises the so called weather-proof Wire in which the wire isI covered with one or more textile coverings, usually cotton braid. The textile coverings have been impregnated with an asphaltic or similar bituminous impregnant, and the textile coverings have applied to them an outer bituminous weather resisting coating. insulation is derived from both the texf' tile coverings and the impregnant and outer coating.

The recognized combustible nature of the bituminous materials has made it desirable to impart to insulated wire of this character the ability to prevent the rapid propagation of flame when 4the wire is exposed to the direct action of re.

Referring now to the drawing I represents a wire having one or more layers or coverings I2 of textile material wrapped or otherwise applied thereto. As hereinshown two such textile coverings I2 such as cotton braid, are provided, and either before or after application, the textile material is impregnated with ,a bituminous'material in orderto provide additional insulation `for the wire and to prevent disintegration of the textile coverings. The textile layers I2 are then covered with an outer weather-resisting coating I4 of bituminous material.

In accordance with the present invention, the

' bituminous material employed as the impregnant and/or the bituminous material employed as the outer coating have incorporated therein, preferably while heated to a fluid condition and in an amount of from 3% to 15%, at least one and preferably several of the soaps of the metals manganese, iron, zinc, chromium, cobalt, alumi-l num, magnesium, and barium. The bituminous materials for the impregnant and the outer coat-1 y melting point and viscosity to enable them to be applied as an impregnant and coating.

Of the metallic soaps above referred to it has been found that the soaps of iron, zinc, aluminum and barium impart to the bituminous compositions the maximum degree of flame retardance.

'Ihe barium soaps have been found to be par ticularly effective from a iiame retarding standpoint. However, the barium soaps are not readily dispersed in asphalts by simple mixing and fluxing together. In an effort to find a method whereby this could be accomplished, it was found that the barium soaps could first be mixed with other soaps which were readily dispersed by simple mixing and uxing, and. then in such combination could readily be dispersed in asphalts.

. It was found that parts of a barium soap and 50 parts of a zinc soap when mixed together, and then added to an asphalt or a bituminous combination, that fire retarding properties approximating the effectiveness of. a manganese soap could be obtained7 when added in approximately the same proportions. Percentages required t0 produce materials of commercial value fall within the range of 4 to 12%. In practice we have found i it is recommended that such materials be utilized in proportions not to exceed 35% of the entire base as a satisfactory degree of flame retardance has not been experienced utilizing metallic soaps in bituminous materials embodying more than 35% of waxes, resins or mixtures thereof.

For some purposes I have found that combinations of several soaps may be used with advantage, particularly to obtain maximum effectiveness with respect to flame retardance. For example, it has been found that the addition of 3%'iron stearate to an asphalt saturant or finisher for the production of code wire and embodying 8% of a barium zinc soap combination produces va bituminous composition which possesses very efllcient iiame retarding characteristics. Other soaps may be included as above described, such for example, as minor proportions of aluminum soaps, with barium and zinc soap combinations.

When a weather-resisting wire embodying the present invention is exposed to the direct action of re, the bituminous coating and the impregnant as they start to burn form a dense carbonaceous ash which soon encrusts to form an effective air seal protecting the remaining underlying bituminous material and the fibrous material from burning and preventing spreading or propagation of the flame.

This application is a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 183,160, filed January 3, i938.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a weatherresisting wire comprising a wire having a plurality of layers of fibrous material covering the same, the textile covering for said wire being impregnated with a bituminous material selected from the group consisting of those natural asphalts, gilsonite, steam reduced and air blown asphalts from petroleum residua, coal tar pitches, stearine pitches, and mixtures thereof which are characterized by their non-greasy and non-oily appearance and feel, and having incorporated therein at least one metallic soap insoluble in water and comprising a soap selected from the soaps of the group of metals consisting of iron,

zinc, aluminum, and barium, in an amount not exceeding fifteen per cent by weight of the bituminous composition, said flame retarding bituminous composition being further characterized by its ability to maintain substantially predetermined physical characteristics upon cooling after having been subjected to heating to elevated temperatures.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a weatherresisting wire comprising a wire protected by a textile covering comprising at least one layer of fibrous material and having said textile covering impregnated with a bituminous material selected from the group consisting of those natural asphalts, gilsonite, steam reduced and air blown asphalts from petroleum residua, coal tar pitches, stearine pitches, and mixtures thereof which are characterized by their non-greasy and non-oily appearance and feel, and having incorporated rtherein at least one metallic soap insoluble in water and comprising a soapselected from the soaps of the group of metals consisting of iron, zinc, aluminum, and barium, in an amount not exceeding fifteen per cent by weight of the bituminous composition, said flame retarding bituminous composition being further characterized by its ability to maintain substantially predetermined physical characteristics upon 60 cooling after having been subjected to heating to elevated temperatures.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a weatherresisting wire comprising a wire having a textile covering therefor comprising at least one layer of fibrous material, said textile covering being coated with a. bituminous material selected from the group consisting of those natural asphalts, gilsonite, steam reduced and air blown asphalts from petroleum residua, coal tar pitches, stearine pitches, and mixtures thereof which are characterized by their non-greasy and non-oily appearance and feel, and having incorporated therein at least one metallic soap insoluble in water and comprising a soap selected from the soaps of the group of metals consisting of iron, zinc, aluminum, and barium, in an amount not exceeding fifteen per cent by weight of the bituminous composition, said llame retarding bituminous composition being furthercharacterized by its abilitv to maintain substantially predetermined physical characteristics upon cooling after having been subjected to heating to elevated temperatures.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a weatherresisting wire comprising a wire having a textile covering comprising at least one layer of fibrous material, said textile covering being impregnated and coated with bituminous materials each selected from the group consisting of those natural asphalts, gilsonite, steam reduced and air blown asphalts from petroleum residua, coal tar pitches, stearine pitches, and mixtures thereof which are characterized by their non-greasy and non-oily appearance and feel, and having incorporated therein at least one metallic soap insoluble in water and comprising a soap selected from the soaps of the group of metals consisting of iron, zinc, aluminum, and barium, in an amount not exceeding fifteen per cent by weight of the bituminous composition being further characterized by its ability to maintain substantially predetermined physical characteristics upon cooling after having been subjected to heating to elevated temperatures.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a weatherresisting wire comprising a wire having a textile covering therefor comprising at least one layer of fibrous material, said textile covering being coated with a bituminous material selected from the group consisting of those natural asphalts, gilsonite, steam reduced and air blown asphalts from petroleum residua, coal tar pitches, stearine pitches, and mixtures thereof which are characterized by their non-greasy and non-oily appearance and feel, and having incorporated therein at least one metallic soap insoluble in water and comprising a. soap selected from the soaps of the group of metals consisting of manganese, iron, zinc, chromium, cobalt, aluminum, magnesium, lead and barium, in an amount not exceeding iifteen per cent by weight of the bituminous composition, said ame retarding bituminous composition being further characterized by its ability to maintain substantially predetermined physical characteristics upon cooling after havingi been subjected to heating to elevated temperatures.

PURDUM M. SNYDEi, 

